Tate vs. Rousey rematch 'personal'

Ronda Rousey will take on Miesha Tate at the end of 'The Ultimate Fighter 18' season. Tate replaced Cat Zingano in the series and the match after Zingano was injured. JAE C. HONG, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FIGHT OF THE WEEK

Bibiano Fernandes vs. Koetsu Okazaki

When: Friday, 3:30 a.m.

Where: SM Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines

How to watch: ONE FC 9 main card on pay-per-view ($9.99) online at livesport.tv.

Outlook: Fernandes (13-3), the former Dream bantamweight and featherweight champion, takes on Okazaki, a former Shooto featherweight champion, for the interim ONE FC bantamweight title at ONE FC 9.

Prediction: Fernandes had his five-fight winning streak snapped by Hamza Rizki on May 15, but he will be completely focused when he takes on Okazaki for the interim ONE FC 135-pound title. Fernandes, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, has more experience in big fights against quality opposition and that will carry him to victory over Okazaki.

Record in 2013 picks: 11-6

CARLOS ARIAS

The most anticipated rematch in women's MMA is back on.

Cat Zingano suffered a torn ACL and now Miesha Tate will replace her as the coach opposite Ronda Rousey on "The Ultimate Fighter 18," and then Rousey will defend her UFC women's bantamweight title against Tate at the end of the season, the UFC announced Tuesday.

Zingano defeated Tate in the fight of the night at "The Ultimate Fighter 17" finale April 13 to earn the shot at Rousey, but she had surgery to repair her torn ACL earlier this week and will be out 6-9 months. That opened the door for Tate, who became bitter rivals with Rousey in the buildup to their first fight where Rousey submitted Tate with an armbar to claim the Strikeforce women's bantamweight title in March 2012.

"This is what we really wanted all along," Rousey told Yahoo! Sports. "Everyone said an Ultimate Fighter between me and Miesha would be the best. We have a personal history with each other and this is a personal show. For some reason, me and Miesha are intertwined in fate like Ali and Frazier or something like that.

"I think people will look back at this as one of monumental rivalries and look back at this as one of those things that really cemented women's MMA."

Tate jumped at the opportunity to go up against Rousey as a coach and then challenge her for the title.

"It's unfortunate for Cat, but the UFC is all about opportunities," Tate told Fox Sports. "I was so stoked when I heard I was going to get the potential spot. To coach against Ronda, (given) our rivalry, I think it makes for better TV. And I get to fight her again, so I'm stoked all around."

Tate respects Rousey as a fighter, but the bad blood is obviously still there.

"Ronda is obviously a phenomenal fighter. She's undefeated. As a person, I don't think she's quite as stellar," Tate said. "I give her credit for what she's done and where she's gotten in the sport of women's MMA. Without her I don't think we'd be as far, so I do value that. At the same time, I feel like I'm right on her heels, and I want what she has. I want the UFC belt. I want my team to win the show, and I want to be able to say that at the end of the day — to look her in the face and say, 'I've beaten Ronda Rousey.'"

NOTES

UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and former champion Junior dos Santos recorded impressive victories at UFC 160 on Saturday, paving the way for a highly anticipated rubber match.

Velasquez needed a mere 81 seconds to dispatch Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in his first title defense since regaining the belt from dos Santos at UFC 155. Dos Santos knocked out Hunt with a spinning hook kick in the third round. UFC president Dana White said Velasquez's next title defense will be a third fight against dos Santos.

"(It's a) no-brainer," White said. "If there was ever a trilogy, that's it right there. They're the two best heavyweights in the world." ...

Mark Hunt turned in a valiant effort in defeat against dos Santos. It might have been more valiant than it was first believed. Hunt fractured his right big toe in the first round. The injury required six stitches. He posted photos of the gruesome injury on Twitter. ...

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, 33, whose epic slugfest against Stephan Bonnar in the finale of the first "The Ultimate Fighter" has been credited with launching MMA into the mainstream, has retired from fighting, White announced at the UFC 160 post-fight news conference. Griffin went 19-7, including 10-5 in the UFC, in his 12-year career.

"Forrest Griffin has been a huge star for us," White said. "Anything we've ever asked of Forrest Griffin, he has done. Every time Forrest Griffin has stepped foot in the octagon, he gave everything he has." ...

Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who recently got knocked out by Vitor Belfort in his UFC debut at UFC on FX 8, challenged UFC middleweight contender Michael Bisping of Orange to a fight on Tuesday on Twitter.

"@bisping u dont have opponent, I dont have opponent, u talk (expletive) about 'practice' i say we set the record straight once & for all @danawhite," Rockhold said on Twitter.

Bisping and Rockhold sparred during a training session in 2012 and Bisping hinted the session didn't go very well for Rockhold in an interview on Spike TV's "MMA Uncensored." Bisping was quick with a response to Rockhold's challenge.

"@LukeRockhold @danawhite I say you go and win a fight in the UFC then we can talk," Bisping said on Twitter. ...

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.